Middle Palace
Dear Patient,
Now that the holidays are over, it’s a good time to show a little love to our Lungs. Lung 1, aka Middle Palace, is often the first point students learn in acupuncture school, since it’s the first point on the Lung channel, which is the first channel in the circuit of the 12 primary channels. It’s a back-to-beginnings kind of point.
The Lungs are called the “delicate organ” in Traditional Chinese Medicine, because out of all the organ systems, they have the most exposure to the external world. The Lungs take in qi from our surroundings and disperse it throughout the body, filtering out pathogens from the air we breathe. Common holiday activities like traveling and attending gatherings put extra stress on the Lungs. And overeating doesn’t help matters either.
Located at the side of the upper chest, Lung 1 is where the qi of the Lungs gathers and concentrates on the surface of the body. We call it a Front Mu point, and it’s a bit of a direct line to the internal organ. Lung 1 helps the Lungs expel invading pathogens from the outside, and transform internally-generated issues like excess phlegm and mucus. It stops coughing, calms wheezing, and opens up the chest.
Acupressure at Lung 1 is a great way to thank your lungs for all their hard work. Just press and take some deep, slow breaths. Allow the fresh qi from your surroundings to fill the palace of your Lungs, and bring renewal to every part of you.
Love and gratitude,
Your Acupuncturist
P.S. Every Wednesday I write about a different acupuncture point. Are there any you’re curious about? Let me know!
Location Notes:
To locate Lung 1 you’ll first locate Lung 2, both of which are on the sides of the upper chest. Trace your finger along the lower border of your collar bone. Where the collar bone meets the deltoid muscle of the shoulder, there will be a depression—that’s Lung 2. Lung 1 is about an inch below that. Lung 2 is very similar in function to Lung 1, so you can use your index and middle fingers to stimulate both points at the same time.